Israel Saria
TEAM NEWS
Wayne Rooney will return to the Manchester United side after recovering from a minor hamstring strain while central defensive duo Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are also set to be reinstated to the starting XI having been rested for Wednesday’s Champions League win over Schalke. Darren Fletcher will not start after his recent virus, with United needing to avoid defeat to retain top spot with two games remaining.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has no injury concerns to his likely first-choice XI. Jose Bosingwa is out and and Yury Zhirkov is a doubt and the Italian’s biggest decision will therefore be whether to play both Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres up front, in what is a must-win game for Chelsea.
MATCH FACTS
No opposition player has scored a first-half goal at Old Trafford in the Premier League since Joe Cole did in this fixture last March.
The Blues have won their last three Premier League games against United. Only Liverpool (between December 2000 and January 2002) have ever won four consecutive PL games against the Red Devils.
Chelsea have only kept one clean sheet in their last 15 league trips to Old Trafford.
Man Utd need two wins from their two remaining home games to equal the record of 55 points at home set by Chelsea in 2005/06 (P19, W18, D1).
Chelsea have won their last five league games, but did suffer defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League during this run.
No side in the Premier League has scored more goals than Manchester United or Chelsea in the final 15 minutes this season (both 19).
Man Utd have scored the most headed goals in the top flight this season (17) but Chelsea have conceded the fewest (four).
Howard Webb has awarded penalties to Man Utd in three of the last four competitive games he has officiated at Old Trafford.
Manchester United have won the last seven Premier League matches at Old Trafford that Howard Webb has officiated.
The Red Devils have won an average of 2.04 points per game in the Premier League in May; a higher average than any other side.
Congratulations to United from a Chelsea fan. You deserved to win and were the better team over the course of the season. There’s always next time, hopefully Carlo stays as it does no good to keep changing the manager whenever things dont quite go to plan.